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Hammer of Witches #2
She Wakes in Water
What happens when the heroes go too far?
In the near year and a half following her tragic ordeal in She Dreams of Fire, Agatha “Aggy” Grae and her allies have been hunting the remnants of the Umbra coven. By fighting back against the corrupt witches who imprisoned and killed the Fae for their blood, Aggy and her friends have become beacons of hope. But inner turmoil plagues the team, as the price for freedom is a weight upon their souls.
When an ancient curse begins to target the Fae community, Aggy, Marcus, Cally, and the rest of the team search for those responsible. But they quickly learn that not all enemies are creatures from the hidden world. Some are simply human. And when humans allow their fear to turn to hate, they become capable of the most wicked and heartbreaking acts.
She Wakes in Water is a story of sacrifice, where the heroes must blur the line between right and wrong. When they are forced to team up with an old enemy, the group’s bonds of friendship are tested, and they question whether they are the heroes or the villains of their own story. Through their successes and their losses, they will have to hold on to hope. But is that enough? Or will it cost them their humanity?
In the near year and a half following her tragic ordeal in She Dreams of Fire, Agatha “Aggy” Grae and her allies have been hunting the remnants of the Umbra coven. By fighting back against the corrupt witches who imprisoned and killed the Fae for their blood, Aggy and her friends have become beacons of hope. But inner turmoil plagues the team, as the price for freedom is a weight upon their souls.
When an ancient curse begins to target the Fae community, Aggy, Marcus, Cally, and the rest of the team search for those responsible. But they quickly learn that not all enemies are creatures from the hidden world. Some are simply human. And when humans allow their fear to turn to hate, they become capable of the most wicked and heartbreaking acts.
She Wakes in Water is a story of sacrifice, where the heroes must blur the line between right and wrong. When they are forced to team up with an old enemy, the group’s bonds of friendship are tested, and they question whether they are the heroes or the villains of their own story. Through their successes and their losses, they will have to hold on to hope. But is that enough? Or will it cost them their humanity?
- GenresUrban Fantasy
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2020
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Gibson
21 books129 followersHi, I'm Mike Gibson (Gib or Gibby to my friends). I'm a father, husband, writer and a retired US Air Force MSgt with 20 years of service. Back in 1980, when I was 5, I saw the animated version of The Hobbit and was a geek from then on. All I have ever wanted to do was to write and tell stories.
I live with my wife, son, dog and two cat in Mt Airy, Maryland.
I love to read, play video games, exercise, and watch movies. I'm a lover of all things geek and feel that all people have amazing stories if you're willing to listen
I live with my wife, son, dog and two cat in Mt Airy, Maryland.
I love to read, play video games, exercise, and watch movies. I'm a lover of all things geek and feel that all people have amazing stories if you're willing to listen
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 3, 2020
She Wakes in Water is the fabulous sophomore title in Mr. Gibson’s Hammer of Witches urban fantasy series. I was blown away once again by the unique mythology, gritty action, smart storytelling, and interesting characters. The story picks up Aggy’s tale roughly fourteen months after the climactic events of the first book. We find out that Aggy, Marcus, Callie, and the others have been targeting the remaining members of the Umbra coven. However, there is a new group of zealot humans in town, and they are killing both the witches and Aggy’s allies.
I struggle to put into words all that is She Wakes in Water; it is so complex, detailed, and rich, it truly is something that must be experienced. As with most urban fantasy stories, one MUST start with the first book (She Dreams of Fire) to fully appreciate the plot. This world is filled with various of fae creatures and fabled beings, many of which are creatively borrowed from various world mythologies. The creatures live right alongside humans, but are hidden by a magical haze to mere mortals. Aggy herself is not human, nor are about half of the main crew, which puts them right in the crosshairs of this new group.
The story is packed with intense action, keeping me engrossed from beginning to end. The primary characters live in the shades of gray between the absolutes, sometimes making difficult and ugly decisions. Shocking facts come to light in bits and pieces, keeping my heart racing. The story, which is brutal and unforgiving at times, has an undercurrent of hope throughout and I loved it, even when shedding a tear or two.
What gives this book heart is the great crew of motley characters who are closer than ever following their exploits. Yet there is some division that comes along with their mission to eliminate the Umbra coven. The story revisits many of the supporting players from the first book, as well as adds a few new ones to the mix. And like the heroes, many of the villains fall in between right and wrong. I love that Mr. Gibson keeps characters true to their nature, allowing for growth but not making wholesale changes. And the newest bad guys are downright evil in the their righteous conviction.
Narration: The story is shared via third person POV, shifting primarily between Aggy, Marcus, and a few of the other main characters. While the story’s narrator remains a neutral feminine voice, it’s deep and soft, kind of scratchy, giving a gritty feel to the dark story. Ms. Sands changes her tone for the characters’ dialogue, deepening for males, adding slight accents when called for, creating a unique set of voices for the diverse cast. She captures Aggy’s desperation and loneliness wonderfully. She injects emotion without being dramatic. I just love her soft, gritty voice.
Mr. Gibson’s world is dark and dangerous, filled with unique and engaging characters. Between the amazing world building and the small bombs dropped at the end of She Wakes in Water, I cannot wait for the next book. I need it now!
Story: A
Narration: A
I struggle to put into words all that is She Wakes in Water; it is so complex, detailed, and rich, it truly is something that must be experienced. As with most urban fantasy stories, one MUST start with the first book (She Dreams of Fire) to fully appreciate the plot. This world is filled with various of fae creatures and fabled beings, many of which are creatively borrowed from various world mythologies. The creatures live right alongside humans, but are hidden by a magical haze to mere mortals. Aggy herself is not human, nor are about half of the main crew, which puts them right in the crosshairs of this new group.
The story is packed with intense action, keeping me engrossed from beginning to end. The primary characters live in the shades of gray between the absolutes, sometimes making difficult and ugly decisions. Shocking facts come to light in bits and pieces, keeping my heart racing. The story, which is brutal and unforgiving at times, has an undercurrent of hope throughout and I loved it, even when shedding a tear or two.
What gives this book heart is the great crew of motley characters who are closer than ever following their exploits. Yet there is some division that comes along with their mission to eliminate the Umbra coven. The story revisits many of the supporting players from the first book, as well as adds a few new ones to the mix. And like the heroes, many of the villains fall in between right and wrong. I love that Mr. Gibson keeps characters true to their nature, allowing for growth but not making wholesale changes. And the newest bad guys are downright evil in the their righteous conviction.
Narration: The story is shared via third person POV, shifting primarily between Aggy, Marcus, and a few of the other main characters. While the story’s narrator remains a neutral feminine voice, it’s deep and soft, kind of scratchy, giving a gritty feel to the dark story. Ms. Sands changes her tone for the characters’ dialogue, deepening for males, adding slight accents when called for, creating a unique set of voices for the diverse cast. She captures Aggy’s desperation and loneliness wonderfully. She injects emotion without being dramatic. I just love her soft, gritty voice.
Mr. Gibson’s world is dark and dangerous, filled with unique and engaging characters. Between the amazing world building and the small bombs dropped at the end of She Wakes in Water, I cannot wait for the next book. I need it now!
Story: A
Narration: A
January 4, 2021
Review originally posted at BooksOfMyHeart.net.
She Wakes in Water starts off not long after the end of She Dreams of Fire (don’t start here, you must read book one before tackling this book, trust me). Aggy and the gang are still killing off the evil witches of the Umbra coven, but it is taking a toll. How far can you toe the line of violence without becoming that which you fight? That is something some of the gang are dealing with better than others, which is no surprise considering the personalities involved here.
I really enjoyed watching how the different characters struggled with what they were doing and keeping their humanity. Each character had their own ways of dealing with the death and violence, and together, it made the team even stronger and more of a family.
If you know me, you know how much I love character driven stories. I love worlds where the characters and their lives are front and center. Sure, I love a great plot with action and mystery, but it is the characters that will drive me to pick up the next book in the series. That is no different here. I love Aggy to death. She’s such an interesting character with her background of being an orphan that was then raised by two aunts (who are way more than they seem on the surface). There isn’t a single character of Aggy’s gang I don’t love to pieces; they are just all so perfect for each other.
Anyway, in this book, they end up having to pause their attacks on the Umbra coven to fight another enemy, the Knights of Seth. They have a hatred of anyone who isn’t human (like them) and if you’re a human who sides with the “other”, you might as well be on of the “others”. Aggy ends up with some unlikely allies in this fight, but will that be enough? And will killing humans be different than killing witches, even if they come for you first?
This Hammer of Witches series has all the things I love in an urban fantasy series; complex characters, unique and well-developed world, lots of action, a good story and more than its fair share of snark (I can’t help but love smart assed characters, I don’t know what that says about me LOL). This series has all of that in spades. Gibson kept me on the edge of my seat, as there were some plot twists I didn’t see coming. He made me laugh and cry. There is nothing better I can say about a story. If you haven’t tried this series, you’re really missing out. I highly recommend it.
Narration (5 stars)
Xe Sands does a wonderful job with the narration of this series. She has done a great job picking voices for this wide array of characters. Not only does she have to voice male and female voices, but there’s also several different types of fae that aren’t exactly humanoid, so their voices are a bit different. And then there is Ji, Aggy’s very flamboyant gay best friend. Ms. Sands did a wonderful job picking a voice that fits him perfectly. Lastly, there’s Miraj, a magical bunny rabbit who can grow a horn, who has picked Aggy as his human. Anyway, the voices really match the personalities of each character. On top of that, she really brings out the emotion of each scene. I really think she’s a big part of the reason there were tears in my eyes in places in the story. She really made me feel what was going on in the scene. I don’t think you could’ve picked a better person to voice this series.
She Wakes in Water starts off not long after the end of She Dreams of Fire (don’t start here, you must read book one before tackling this book, trust me). Aggy and the gang are still killing off the evil witches of the Umbra coven, but it is taking a toll. How far can you toe the line of violence without becoming that which you fight? That is something some of the gang are dealing with better than others, which is no surprise considering the personalities involved here.
I really enjoyed watching how the different characters struggled with what they were doing and keeping their humanity. Each character had their own ways of dealing with the death and violence, and together, it made the team even stronger and more of a family.
If you know me, you know how much I love character driven stories. I love worlds where the characters and their lives are front and center. Sure, I love a great plot with action and mystery, but it is the characters that will drive me to pick up the next book in the series. That is no different here. I love Aggy to death. She’s such an interesting character with her background of being an orphan that was then raised by two aunts (who are way more than they seem on the surface). There isn’t a single character of Aggy’s gang I don’t love to pieces; they are just all so perfect for each other.
Anyway, in this book, they end up having to pause their attacks on the Umbra coven to fight another enemy, the Knights of Seth. They have a hatred of anyone who isn’t human (like them) and if you’re a human who sides with the “other”, you might as well be on of the “others”. Aggy ends up with some unlikely allies in this fight, but will that be enough? And will killing humans be different than killing witches, even if they come for you first?
This Hammer of Witches series has all the things I love in an urban fantasy series; complex characters, unique and well-developed world, lots of action, a good story and more than its fair share of snark (I can’t help but love smart assed characters, I don’t know what that says about me LOL). This series has all of that in spades. Gibson kept me on the edge of my seat, as there were some plot twists I didn’t see coming. He made me laugh and cry. There is nothing better I can say about a story. If you haven’t tried this series, you’re really missing out. I highly recommend it.
Narration (5 stars)
Xe Sands does a wonderful job with the narration of this series. She has done a great job picking voices for this wide array of characters. Not only does she have to voice male and female voices, but there’s also several different types of fae that aren’t exactly humanoid, so their voices are a bit different. And then there is Ji, Aggy’s very flamboyant gay best friend. Ms. Sands did a wonderful job picking a voice that fits him perfectly. Lastly, there’s Miraj, a magical bunny rabbit who can grow a horn, who has picked Aggy as his human. Anyway, the voices really match the personalities of each character. On top of that, she really brings out the emotion of each scene. I really think she’s a big part of the reason there were tears in my eyes in places in the story. She really made me feel what was going on in the scene. I don’t think you could’ve picked a better person to voice this series.
November 30, 2021
SHE WAKES IN WATER is the second book of the Hammer of Witches trilogy. A urban fantasy series about a young half-Graeae (those witches from Clash of the Titans) who hunts down witches after a coven of them murders her mother. Having successfully destroyed the coven that did so and has been hunting fae for spell parts, Agatha continues to hunt down evil witches because what else is she supposed to do with her life?
Unlike the majority of urban fantasy series where deciding to hunt down and murder supernaturals would be considered a heroic journey of self-discovery, the choice proves to be considerably more controversial for Agatha. While Agatha is fine executing one witch after the other and they all seem to psychopathic serial killers, the rest of her family has mixed feelings on the subject. To Ji, her best friend, they are just a bunch of murderers themselves. To Miraj, her homicidal intelligent rabbit, it is just survival of the fittest.
Even Marcus, who is a serial killer like Dexter, is someone that has severe issues with how comfortable that Aggy has become with killing. Marcus hates what he is and what he does but feels compelled to do it. He also projects a lot of innocence and goodness on Aggy despite the fact she's been hunting monsters trying to kill her since before she met Marcus.
The big change of this book is the introduction of the Knights of Seth. A malicious Nazi-like terrorist organization armed with advanced weapons and trained to hunt fairies, they have become a genocidal series of attacks on the local fae population. They have a special interest in Agatha and a belief that she is the key to finally destroying the entire fae race.
I really liked the development of the characters involved with much being devoted to showing that Agatha can't adjust to a normal life and her idea of it was hunting down witches with her friends. The fact they don't want to devote themselves to hunting down monsters for the rest of their lives shows the vast gulf that exists between their worldviews. She's not Spider-Man and romanticizes "normality" but wants to be both a band playing teenager as well as a slayer of evil.
There's a little bit of romance in this story that I really enjoyed as well as a interesting LGBT plotline. Agatha is bisexual just like her friend Ji is gay and these elements are treated as completely normal in the setting. Things take a few twists and turns in the ending but I liked having this element developed. There's a fun "meet cute" element where Agatha meets Kacey after initially flirting with the dude on a date with the latter.
Another interesting fact is the book contains villainous police officer/witch, Vanessa, who has been ordered to protect Agatha despite the fact most of her coven has been murdered by self-said witch hunter. She's a narcissistic psychopath with no redeeming qualities whatsoever but not always wrong in her observations about the gang. Watching them forced to team up was an interesting storytelling beat.
The book is full of actions, the villains completely despicable, and there's a pretty harsh body count by the end of the story. I mean, it doesn't quite reach Red Wedding levels of disaster for the good guys but it's not far off either. Michael Gibson isn't afraid to kill his darlings and that adds significant tension to things. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the third installment.
Unlike the majority of urban fantasy series where deciding to hunt down and murder supernaturals would be considered a heroic journey of self-discovery, the choice proves to be considerably more controversial for Agatha. While Agatha is fine executing one witch after the other and they all seem to psychopathic serial killers, the rest of her family has mixed feelings on the subject. To Ji, her best friend, they are just a bunch of murderers themselves. To Miraj, her homicidal intelligent rabbit, it is just survival of the fittest.
Even Marcus, who is a serial killer like Dexter, is someone that has severe issues with how comfortable that Aggy has become with killing. Marcus hates what he is and what he does but feels compelled to do it. He also projects a lot of innocence and goodness on Aggy despite the fact she's been hunting monsters trying to kill her since before she met Marcus.
The big change of this book is the introduction of the Knights of Seth. A malicious Nazi-like terrorist organization armed with advanced weapons and trained to hunt fairies, they have become a genocidal series of attacks on the local fae population. They have a special interest in Agatha and a belief that she is the key to finally destroying the entire fae race.
I really liked the development of the characters involved with much being devoted to showing that Agatha can't adjust to a normal life and her idea of it was hunting down witches with her friends. The fact they don't want to devote themselves to hunting down monsters for the rest of their lives shows the vast gulf that exists between their worldviews. She's not Spider-Man and romanticizes "normality" but wants to be both a band playing teenager as well as a slayer of evil.
There's a little bit of romance in this story that I really enjoyed as well as a interesting LGBT plotline. Agatha is bisexual just like her friend Ji is gay and these elements are treated as completely normal in the setting. Things take a few twists and turns in the ending but I liked having this element developed. There's a fun "meet cute" element where Agatha meets Kacey after initially flirting with the dude on a date with the latter.
Another interesting fact is the book contains villainous police officer/witch, Vanessa, who has been ordered to protect Agatha despite the fact most of her coven has been murdered by self-said witch hunter. She's a narcissistic psychopath with no redeeming qualities whatsoever but not always wrong in her observations about the gang. Watching them forced to team up was an interesting storytelling beat.
The book is full of actions, the villains completely despicable, and there's a pretty harsh body count by the end of the story. I mean, it doesn't quite reach Red Wedding levels of disaster for the good guys but it's not far off either. Michael Gibson isn't afraid to kill his darlings and that adds significant tension to things. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the third installment.
August 9, 2020
The first book I read by MK Gibson was his fantastic Technomancer book. It was strong on action and story with amazing characters and seemingly impossible odds to overcome.
This sequel to "She Dreams of Fire" is all of that and more. At times, laugh out loud funny, and other times so heart-breakingly sad, you wonder how the characters can go on. It is the hallmark of great writing to achieve so many strong emotions in a well written and plotted story.
Every character in this book is extremely well written and fleshed out. Aggy, the hemophiliac Fae blood driven protagonist, is an amazing character. By injecting the blood of the various Fae, she can take on their abilities and attributes...as well as perform some small amounts of magic. She has been driven into a war against both blood witches and xenophobic radicals. A war she is not really equipped to deal with.
And she only has a chance at succeeding thanks to her amazing friends and family. Humans and Fae working together to stop the monsters that prey on the weak and strong alike. It is the friends and family that really lets the writing shine. Real people, with all of their doubts and insecurities...and occasionally a talking rabbit.
The Knights of Seth are targeting all the Fae in an effort to drive them out of hiding and bring all of humanity against them. And they are terrifying in their efficiency. Capturing and killing Fae and then infecting them with cursed blood, so that they will kill innocents to harbor hate against all the Fae.
Aggy and her team have to stop them. But how do you stop a group when you are always one step behind them?
An absolutely amazing roller coaster of a story that I really can't say enough about. Other than, "I am really looking forward to the next installment!"
This sequel to "She Dreams of Fire" is all of that and more. At times, laugh out loud funny, and other times so heart-breakingly sad, you wonder how the characters can go on. It is the hallmark of great writing to achieve so many strong emotions in a well written and plotted story.
Every character in this book is extremely well written and fleshed out. Aggy, the hemophiliac Fae blood driven protagonist, is an amazing character. By injecting the blood of the various Fae, she can take on their abilities and attributes...as well as perform some small amounts of magic. She has been driven into a war against both blood witches and xenophobic radicals. A war she is not really equipped to deal with.
And she only has a chance at succeeding thanks to her amazing friends and family. Humans and Fae working together to stop the monsters that prey on the weak and strong alike. It is the friends and family that really lets the writing shine. Real people, with all of their doubts and insecurities...and occasionally a talking rabbit.
The Knights of Seth are targeting all the Fae in an effort to drive them out of hiding and bring all of humanity against them. And they are terrifying in their efficiency. Capturing and killing Fae and then infecting them with cursed blood, so that they will kill innocents to harbor hate against all the Fae.
Aggy and her team have to stop them. But how do you stop a group when you are always one step behind them?
An absolutely amazing roller coaster of a story that I really can't say enough about. Other than, "I am really looking forward to the next installment!"
August 18, 2020
Wow.
This was a next level sequel! If you've read the first book (and you absolutely should, do not jump in here), then you know that this series doesn't pull it's punches. It managed to make a good balance between visceral brutality, and a sense of family and connection. It's a precarious balance to make, but one that was done supremely well (even if the fates of certain characters had me almost screaming at the book).
The book starts off not long after the events of the first book. Our crew is hunting the last members of the Umbra coven, fairly successfully, but it is taking a toll. The characters are having trouble reconciling themselves with the violence they are inflicting, even as they know they are doing what's right. This conflict is a major part of the characters' motivations throughout the story, and I feel it really elevated the whole narrative. It helped to solidify the characters as real people in my mind and made me care about what was happening to them.
I won't spoil any of the plot, but the action was once again a perfect balance of fast paced and detailed without being overly detailed (something not all writers manage as well).
All in all, this was a fantastic book and I was enthralled throughout.
I'd definitely recommend this one.
This was a next level sequel! If you've read the first book (and you absolutely should, do not jump in here), then you know that this series doesn't pull it's punches. It managed to make a good balance between visceral brutality, and a sense of family and connection. It's a precarious balance to make, but one that was done supremely well (even if the fates of certain characters had me almost screaming at the book).
The book starts off not long after the events of the first book. Our crew is hunting the last members of the Umbra coven, fairly successfully, but it is taking a toll. The characters are having trouble reconciling themselves with the violence they are inflicting, even as they know they are doing what's right. This conflict is a major part of the characters' motivations throughout the story, and I feel it really elevated the whole narrative. It helped to solidify the characters as real people in my mind and made me care about what was happening to them.
I won't spoil any of the plot, but the action was once again a perfect balance of fast paced and detailed without being overly detailed (something not all writers manage as well).
All in all, this was a fantastic book and I was enthralled throughout.
I'd definitely recommend this one.
March 1, 2021
M. K. Gibson has done it again!! I enjoyed every second of this book and all of the twists and turns along the way. Amazing work yet again!!!
January 22, 2022
Stunned
I just read this book again, and, well, Gibby you did it. When is the next one? These keep getting better, the characters get stronger and the plots richer.
I just read this book again, and, well, Gibby you did it. When is the next one? These keep getting better, the characters get stronger and the plots richer.
February 3, 2021
I know you said that you don't like Asian food, but you can eat my hand. - Gee
There are times when a good book will make you feel like anything is possible. Well, this isnt one of those times. This is one of those times where a great book makes you feel utterly devastated, evily manipulated, and completely enthralled.
There are moments where if felt like watching a horror movie and wanting to scream, "Don't go in the basement!" But we all know that they will go down those steps to investigate the creepy noise. No matter how much I screamed at my phone, Aggie didnt hear my warnings.
I honestly dont understand how such a captivating fantasy story isnt more popular that it is.
The narration by Xe Sands was excellent. Excellent! She easily takes a spot in my Top 5 narrators.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here's a look at my crazy moments while listening to She Wakes in Water:
Oh Aggie 🤦🏽♀️. Why aren't you more suspicious?
Marcus is jealous... Witch hunters are closing in... the Fae are going beserk... a magically bunny interrupts morning sex... and dwarfs complaining about The Hobbit...🤣 I need popcorn!!!!
Marcus noooooooooooooo!!!! You might have serial killer tendencies but you're still the one for Aggie 😭 Dont give up!
I have a feeling that I'm about to be depressed and super upset with M.K. Gibson... why do authors work so hard to make someone your favorite and then CRUSH your feelings like mashed potatoes 😭😭😭😭😭
There are times when a good book will make you feel like anything is possible. Well, this isnt one of those times. This is one of those times where a great book makes you feel utterly devastated, evily manipulated, and completely enthralled.
There are moments where if felt like watching a horror movie and wanting to scream, "Don't go in the basement!" But we all know that they will go down those steps to investigate the creepy noise. No matter how much I screamed at my phone, Aggie didnt hear my warnings.
I honestly dont understand how such a captivating fantasy story isnt more popular that it is.
The narration by Xe Sands was excellent. Excellent! She easily takes a spot in my Top 5 narrators.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Here's a look at my crazy moments while listening to She Wakes in Water:
Oh Aggie 🤦🏽♀️. Why aren't you more suspicious?
Marcus is jealous... Witch hunters are closing in... the Fae are going beserk... a magically bunny interrupts morning sex... and dwarfs complaining about The Hobbit...🤣 I need popcorn!!!!
Marcus noooooooooooooo!!!! You might have serial killer tendencies but you're still the one for Aggie 😭 Dont give up!
I have a feeling that I'm about to be depressed and super upset with M.K. Gibson... why do authors work so hard to make someone your favorite and then CRUSH your feelings like mashed potatoes 😭😭😭😭😭
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews